for a 15 minute screening session/"mini-interview", wear a suit?

[jingramm]

I emailed the HR person yesterday with my resume and she replied saying that there's a screening session for people to participate in at the local office today (next day from first contact). So I replied saying that I am available after I get off work and to schedule me a time slot. I brought my suit + tie just in case in my car this morning but would showing up with my regular business casual wear be considered unprofessional? It's a 15 minute screening session.

I plan to head over there immediately after I get off work

 

[Key West]

Yes.

 

[SunnyD]

ALWAYS wear a suit. Even if you're interviewing for a sanitation worker position and the interview is happening in a KFC in the shittiest part of town.

ALWAYS wear a suit.

 

[Vette73]

What job?

But business casual would be fine most of the time. Most of these screenings last all of 5-10 minutes and its just HRs pre-screening before you MIGHT see anyone real.

And yes you can look weird wearing a suit. It has happened to me and many others I know. Cost me a job once, but it was a crappy job but I still needed one.

 

[purbeast0]

wear shorts a better and flip flops, you will be fine.

 

[zebano]

Suit is too much in some jobs but it's always better to be over-dressed rather than under-dressed.


Edit: When I was 18, I was looking for a summer job and randomly stopped into a local country club and asked if they needed a waiter and despite having no experience I got the job. The manager told me latter it was because I dressed and acted professionally (the tips were amazing).

 

[gorcorps]

What job?

But business casual would be fine most of the time. Most of these screenings last all of 5-10 minutes and its just HRs pre-screening before you MIGHT see anyone real.

And yes you can look weird wearing a suit. It has happened to me and many others I know. Cost me a job once, but it was a crappy job but I still needed one.

Have you ever stopped to think it wasn't really the suit that cost you the job?

 

[ss284]

The company has HR, and has scheduled interview sessions. Wear a suit, it cant hurt.

 

[Vette73]

Have you ever stopped to think it wasn't really the suit that cost you the job?

The suit was not it direct but it set the mood that I was applying for a DIFFERENT job. The guy came out in jeans and did a double look at me. Asked the woman at the desk and she pointed at me.

Long story... HR sold the job as paper pusher that did inventory control for the water company with some finance. The REAL job was putting equipment where it needs to be and rebuilding small motors in trimmer/lawn mowers/etc… I tried my best it BS it as I needed a job but that only made it worse. One of the people said I might apply for higher up job and I said well I don’t mind starting at the bottom and asked how long they had been in their jobs thinking they were moving up as well. They both said something like same job with no change for 15-20 years. So that kinda backfired.
If I had shown up in jeans or even business casual I would have probable been able to BS them and get onboard. But the suit just set the mood completely different. They did not even ask the questions they had written down they went straight to my resume and started with “why do YOU want THIS job????”

Needless to say they said they would have a talk with HR after I showed them the AD I applied to.

 

[Bill Brasky]

ALWAYS wear a suit. Even if you're interviewing for a sanitation worker position and the interview is happening in a KFC in the shittiest part of town.

ALWAYS wear a suit.

This is my rule of thumb as well. :thumbsup:

 

[Koing]

This is my rule of thumb as well. :thumbsup:

I can't believe this even needs to be asked mate...no wonder why people say the Europeans dress much better...

Interivew = wear a suit unless your going for a f0cking clown interview then where your CLOWN SUIT.

Koing